Sega NAOMI

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Naomi case.jpg
Sega NAOMI
Manufacturer: Sega
Variants: Sega NAOMI GD-ROM, Sega NAOMI Multiboard
Release Date RRP Code

The Sega NAOMI (New Arcade Operation Machine Idea) is an arcade system board released in 1998 as a successor to Sega Model 3 hardware. It uses the same architecture as the Sega Dreamcast, and stands as one of Sega's most successful arcade systems of all time, along with the Sega Model 2.

The NAOMI debuted at a time when traditional arcades were on a decline, and so was engineered to be a mass-produced, cost-effective machine reliant on large game ROM "cartridges" which could be interchanged by the arcade operator. This is contrary to systems such as the Model 3, in which each board, despite sharing largely the same specifications, would be bespoke, with the built-in ROMs being flashed with games during the manufacturing process. This is not the first time such an idea was utilised by Sega, but never before had technology been used for a cutting-edge Sega arcade specification.

Unlike most hardware platforms in the arcade industry, NAOMI was widely licensed for use by other manufacturers, many of which were former rivals to Sega such as Taito, Capcom and Namco. It is also one of the longest-serving arcade boards, being supported from 1998 to 2009. It is a platform where many top-rated Sega franchises were born, including Virtua Tennis, Samba de Amigo, Crazy Taxi and Monkey Ball.

The NAOMI was succeeded by the Sega Hikaru and Sega NAOMI 2 boards, though having out-lasted the NAOMI 2, Hikaru and Sega Aurora. The Sega Chihiro, or possibly even the Sega Lindbergh, could also be seen as successors.

Hardware

The NAOMI shares the same basic system architecture as the Dreamcast, with both systems using the same Hitachi SH-4 CPU, PowerVR Series 2 GPU (PVR2DC), and Yamaha AICA based sound system. The NAOMI, however, packs twice as much system and graphics memory, and four times as much sound memory. Although the NAOMI and Dreamcast operate at the same clock speed (clock frequency), multiple NAOMI boards can be 'stacked' together to achieve better graphics performance or for a multi-monitor setup.

The other key difference between NAOMI and Dreamcast lies in the game-media - the NAOMI primarily uses ROM PC-boards (i.e. large game cartridges) with up to 168 MB of usable data (more expensive but with faster loading), wihle the Dreamcast uses GD-ROM optical-storage with up to 1GB of storage (at the expense of load times). The NAOMI was extended in 1999 so that it could interface with GD-ROM-based arcade games. This system uses standard PC SDR-DIMM modules which are battery backed-up for storing game data. The game data is read from the GD-ROM at bootup, stored onto the SDR RAM to which the NAOMI reads from during game. This leaves less wear on the GD-ROM drive as it's only used when the memory is empty or corrupted, else it will use the SDR RAM for boot-up every subsequent power on after checking the data integrity. If the battery fails, the system is left turned off for several days or the game GD-ROM is changed, the game will be reloaded from the GD-ROM drive.

Three more variants also exist:

  • First Edition — The initial release of NAOMI hardware was housed in an aluminium shell, similar in design to some versions of the earlier Model 2 and Model 3 system hardware. This version is known to be used in House of the Dead 2 arcade machines, with the game ROM board pre-installed inside the case. It is unknown whether this is a unique hardware variant specifically for House of the Dead 2, or whether it is compatible with later NAOMI releases.
  • Multiboard — Several NAOMI motherboards joined onto a single board which connects the multiple boards together to created a more powerful parallel processing system.
  • Satellite Terminal — independent NAOMI cabinets connected to a master one

NAOMI boards can be used in special game cabinets (NAOMI Universal Cabinet) where a theoretical maximum of sixteen boards can be used in a parallel processing format.

The NAOMI multiboard setup uses a different BIOS chip than a regular NAOMI to handle all the boards but the whole system only uses one copy of the game cartridge, of which only four games were released.

Technical Specifications

Multiboard Specifications

  • CPU: 2× to 16× Hitachi SH-4 @ 200 MHz
    • Performance: 720 to 5760 MIPS, 2.8 to 22.4 GFLOPS
  • GPU: 2× to 16× NEC-VideoLogic PowerVR 2 (PVR2DC/CLX2) @ 100 MHz
  • Sound engine: 2× to 16× Yamaha AICA Super Intelligent Sound Processor @ 67 MHz
    • Internal CPU: 2× to 16× 32-bit ARM7 RISC CPU @ 45 MHz
    • CPU performance: 80 to 640 MIPS
    • PCM/ADPCM: 128 to 1024 channels
  • RAM: 112 to 896 MB (128 to 1024 MB with GD-ROM)
    • Main RAM: 64 to 512 MB
    • VRAM: 32 to 256 MB
    • Sound memory: 16 to 128 MB
  • Storage media:
    • ROM boards: 344 to 2752 MB
    • Disc storage: 2 to 16 GD-ROM drives
  • Display resolution: 3-monitor widescreen VGA, 960×240 to 2400×608 pixels, progressive scan
  • Polygon performance: 14 to 112 million textured polygons/sec (with lighting and trilinear filtering), or 20 to 160 million polygons/sec
  • Rendering fillrate: 1 to 8 billion pixels/sec (with transparent polygons), 6.4 to 51.2 billion pixels/sec (with opaque polygons)
  • Texture fillrate: 200 million to 1.6 billion texels/sec

Gallery

First Edition

  • Sockets, with open lid

  • Inside, internal ROM board removed

  • Model number

  • Outer case, back

  • Outer case, right

  • Outer case, left

  • Motherboard, top

  • Motherboard, bottom

  • Motherboard, side

Main version

  • Top of the motherboard

  • Bottom of the motherboard

  • Sockets

  • Full System

  • NAOMI Case

  • GD-ROM slot

  • DIMM Module + Key

List of Games

NAOMI

Distributed by Capcom

Distributed by Namco

NAOMI GD-ROM

Distributed by Capcom

Distributed by Taito

NAOMI Multiboard

NAOMI Satellite Terminal

Promotional Material

  • Press Kit (1998)

External links


Sega arcade boards
Originating in arcades









Console-based hardware








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